Gorilla Families

What Gorillas are in Rwanda

Only 700 Mountain gorillas last on the globe. Most of them exist in the Virunga Mountains that overlap Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo, the Democratic Republic, although the slighter number live in the Bwindi Dense Forest Uganda. Hunted mountain gorillas and forced out from their diminishing habitat, the forest will now be seriously guarded.

A maximum number of Mountain gorillas from 700 live in wild occurrences and are not even near human range. However, some groups emerge to be altered and may be hunted and perceived by some tourists under the cautious eyes of park spies.

Where can we see the gorillas in Rwanda

Paralleled to Uganda, Rwanda is a small region, so it gives itself a desirable short trip in combination with a beach stay or safari away in Eastern Africa.

To reach The Volcanoes National Park, there are only two hours of traveling by road from Kigali and the international airport. You should plan 2 or 3 days to visit the gorillas, which might be the perfect plan. 

You can get a permit to visit gorillas in Rwanda is easy to get. Rwanda also has double the number of habituated guerilla groups compared to Uganda.

You can currently find seven core groups that can be chased in Rwanda; the Umubano Sabyinyo, Susa, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Hirwa, and Group Thirteen.

The groups vary in numbers from about 9 to 39 entities and have at least one male with a silverback. Of the seven groups, some couples tend to be situated on the lumber between Mount Gahinga and Mount Sabyinyo, which is almost two hours away from the park’s entrance.

At the same time, as it is not likely to take a permit or license for a particular group, the hazards of taking a little walk are higher than in Uganda. There is no guarantee still, and you might be trailing a Susa group; it was first studied by Diane Fossey and often originates from five hours of hiking on Mount Visoke.

Uganda is larger than Rwanda to tour, and it takes two long days to the Bwindi Dense Forest from the international Entebbe Airport; you can take a break by having a night’s stay on the midway at Lake Mburo. Once you reach Bwindi, we suggest you stay three nights before ongoing your safari all around Uganda. 

You will find four habituated groups of a gorilla in Bwindi, and no one is commonly found nearby to the entry of the park.

These groups are called the Nkuringo, Habinyanja, Mubare, and Rushegura. And their range in groups is from a minimum of 10 to 20 gorillas, and every group has one or two gorillas with silverbacks.

The topography in Bwindi indicates that an individual sometimes starts her hike at the topmost of the mountains that incline into the vale to see gorillas, then climb up towards the slopes in the evening of the day which is more challenging.

Gorilla safari Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary for me to be physically fit to hike gorillas?

Because gorillas currently live in highland forests, excursions to visit them must be done at a higher elevation through various plants and topography. One needs an appropriate fitness level and persistence to hike up slippery mountains and through heavy growth.

What is the best time of the year to see the gorillas?

Mountain gorillas can be observed all year, and because of the rainy environment, it can rain at any time of year; thus, there is no definite time to avoid visiting. April and May are the rainiest months of the year; hence most people avoid traveling during these months.

 Are you sure you’ll see gorillas when you go out?

The chance of seeing mountain gorillas is not guaranteed. Despite this, we have never heard of a tourist party not seeing a gorilla family throughout their journey. To help ensure, trackers go early in the morning to find groups of gorillas and broadcast their GPS coordinates to the park headquarters, so you know where you’re going when you have to go on your hike with your expert. Even if the gorillas are roaming, the monitors stay with them.

What kind of clothes should I put on?

You should anticipate getting filthy and wet. Therefore weatherproof and protective clothing is a must.

Layers are recommended because the effort will warm you up. Many have discovered that having tracksuit bottoms to guard our legs against nettles and a T-shirt with such a long-sleeved shirt over the T-shirt is a smart idea.

You’ll need a weatherproof daypack for your water bottle, cameras, and snacks. Trekkers can be rented for a modest price to lift your daypack and assist you on the steeper slopes.

 Is there an age limit for going to see the gorillas?

Sure, you have to be a minimum of 16 years old, but there are exceptions to this regulation. That’s the same case in Uganda and Rwanda, and the national parks maintain it. But there is no maximum age limit!

 Is a permit required?

Yes, permits are required to visit the gorillas because they are minimal. After all, only eight are granted daily by each gorilla group.

We obtain permissions for you early, at least four months before your trip. Permits are now priced at roughly US$1,200 per individual and include one hour only with Mountain gorillas.

This money supports habitat protection, generally pro initiatives, and public training.

Is my insurance going to cover this?

It’s essential to double-check that your travel insurance would cover gorilla hiking, as some policies may require a more significant fee to be charged.